I’ve received a few emails asking about whether or not 1.1.3 firmware iPhones have hit the store shelves in US Apple stores. Well, what I can tell you is that the 1.1.2 iPhones are selling fast in the USA. This is a trend that you will usually see after every iPhone firmware update. For all you Canadians out there heading down to the US to buy an iPhone from an Apple store, pay attention!!

Anyways, let’s take a look down memory lane, to recap how to check out firmware version of your new iPhone by looking at the serial number. Here’s a recap from the post:

Sealed (Unopened) iPhone

A typical iPhone Serial number: 8T751XYZWH8 <<—- see the 51 in bold?

Using the above as an example

digits 4 to 5 (in this case, 51) = Week of manufacture —> You want these numbers to say 51 or 52 for 1.1.2 iPhones

The consensus online is that week 51 and 52 iPhones are still on 1.1.2 firmware, which means you can buy them safely and unlock them with a “SIM” solution. How to perfect the art of checking the serial, while inside an Apple store?

How to Check an iPhone Serial Number in an Apple Store

I got this idea from mixre from the Hackint0sh forums. Visit your local Apple store in the USA. Once you’re in the store, ask to buy an iPhone. DO NOT ask about the firmware versions! Just act natural like you have no clue about unlocking iPhones. Before you finalize the transaction, inquire if there is a 10% restocking fee for returning unopened iPhones, say, for example you change your mind.

If they mention there is no restocking fee, buy the iPhone. Walk away from the counter, THEN check your iPhone’s serial using the identifying methods above! This is a great way to bypass any problems you may inquire from Apple employees. So there you have it. Canadians…play it calm and cool out there when you’re buying your iPhone. Get a 1.1.2 while you still can! Good luck!!! Let me know if it works out for you!

Share & comment

I just bought my iphone last weekend and I asked the apple rep if they had any 1.1.2 left in stock, he said no they don’t they are only selling the 1.1.3 but I got it anyway. When I opened it up i was very happy to see it was 1.1.2, so while officially they may not be selling 1.1.2 some apple reps seem to understand.

Colin

I just bought my iphone last weekend and I asked the apple rep if they had any 1.1.2 left in stock, he said no they don’t they are only selling the 1.1.3 but I got it anyway. When I opened it up i was very happy to see it was 1.1.2, so while officially they may not be selling 1.1.2 some apple reps seem to understand.

Colin

I just bought my iphone last weekend and I asked the apple rep if they had any 1.1.2 left in stock, he said no they don’t they are only selling the 1.1.3 but I got it anyway. When I opened it up i was very happy to see it was 1.1.2, so while officially they may not be selling 1.1.2 some apple reps seem to understand.

Colin

I just bought my iphone last weekend and I asked the apple rep if they had any 1.1.2 left in stock, he said no they don’t they are only selling the 1.1.3 but I got it anyway. When I opened it up i was very happy to see it was 1.1.2, so while officially they may not be selling 1.1.2 some apple reps seem to understand.

Colin

I just bought my iphone last weekend and I asked the apple rep if they had any 1.1.2 left in stock, he said no they don’t they are only selling the 1.1.3 but I got it anyway. When I opened it up i was very happy to see it was 1.1.2, so while officially they may not be selling 1.1.2 some apple reps seem to understand.

Matt

coolbeans

Matt

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Matt

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Matt

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Matt

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Matt

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Matt

coolbeans

Dusty

@Colin
U got lucky bud to get a 1.1.2FW iPhone! Congrats too for purchasing one 😉

Dusty

@Colin
U got lucky bud to get a 1.1.2FW iPhone! Congrats too for purchasing one 😉

Dusty

@Colin
U got lucky bud to get a 1.1.2FW iPhone! Congrats too for purchasing one 😉

Dusty

@Colin
U got lucky bud to get a 1.1.2FW iPhone! Congrats too for purchasing one 😉

Dusty

@Colin
U got lucky bud to get a 1.1.2FW iPhone! Congrats too for purchasing one 😉

Moosexs

Ordered the phone from Apple online store 22/01. Should be delivered tomorrow. Any guesses whether it’s an 1.1.3?

Moosexs

Ordered the phone from Apple online store 22/01. Should be delivered tomorrow. Any guesses whether it’s an 1.1.3?

Moosexs

Ordered the phone from Apple online store 22/01. Should be delivered tomorrow. Any guesses whether it’s an 1.1.3?

Moosexs

Ordered the phone from Apple online store 22/01. Should be delivered tomorrow. Any guesses whether it’s an 1.1.3?

Colin

Thanks, and I agree I got really lucky, thankfully. Now I am just waiting for my StealthSIM to arrive and I will get the phone going.

Colin

Thanks, and I agree I got really lucky, thankfully. Now I am just waiting for my StealthSIM to arrive and I will get the phone going.

Colin

Thanks, and I agree I got really lucky, thankfully. Now I am just waiting for my StealthSIM to arrive and I will get the phone going.

Colin

Thanks, and I agree I got really lucky, thankfully. Now I am just waiting for my StealthSIM to arrive and I will get the phone going.

Dusty

@Colin
Cool stuff on purchasing the StealthSIM. If u don’t mind, can u let me know how it works out for ya? I’m still interested in purchasing one 🙂

Thanks

Dusty

@Colin
Cool stuff on purchasing the StealthSIM. If u don’t mind, can u let me know how it works out for ya? I’m still interested in purchasing one 🙂

Thanks

Dusty

@Colin
Cool stuff on purchasing the StealthSIM. If u don’t mind, can u let me know how it works out for ya? I’m still interested in purchasing one 🙂

Thanks

Dusty

@Colin
Cool stuff on purchasing the StealthSIM. If u don’t mind, can u let me know how it works out for ya? I’m still interested in purchasing one 🙂

Thanks

Dusty

@Colin
Cool stuff on purchasing the StealthSIM. If u don’t mind, can u let me know how it works out for ya? I’m still interested in purchasing one 🙂

Thanks

AndreaJ

Omg Moosexs, are you in Canada? What if it’s a 1.1.3? What were you thinking?

AndreaJ

Omg Moosexs, are you in Canada? What if it’s a 1.1.3? What were you thinking?

AndreaJ

Omg Moosexs, are you in Canada? What if it’s a 1.1.3? What were you thinking?

AndreaJ

Omg Moosexs, are you in Canada? What if it’s a 1.1.3? What were you thinking?

AndreaJ

Omg Moosexs, are you in Canada? What if it’s a 1.1.3? What were you thinking?

AndreaJ

Omg Moosexs, are you in Canada? What if it’s a 1.1.3? What were you thinking?

Jonathan

does anyone know if you can downgrade a new iPhone if it ends up being an OTB v1.1.3? i’m going to the states on the 4th of Feb and planned on buying a phone once i got there. if you guys know about anything like that i’d love to hear from ya 😉

Jonathan

does anyone know if you can downgrade a new iPhone if it ends up being an OTB v1.1.3? i’m going to the states on the 4th of Feb and planned on buying a phone once i got there. if you guys know about anything like that i’d love to hear from ya 😉

Jonathan

does anyone know if you can downgrade a new iPhone if it ends up being an OTB v1.1.3? i’m going to the states on the 4th of Feb and planned on buying a phone once i got there. if you guys know about anything like that i’d love to hear from ya 😉

Jonathan

does anyone know if you can downgrade a new iPhone if it ends up being an OTB v1.1.3? i’m going to the states on the 4th of Feb and planned on buying a phone once i got there. if you guys know about anything like that i’d love to hear from ya 😉

Jonathan

does anyone know if you can downgrade a new iPhone if it ends up being an OTB v1.1.3? i’m going to the states on the 4th of Feb and planned on buying a phone once i got there. if you guys know about anything like that i’d love to hear from ya 😉

Moosexs

Actually I’m in Finland 🙂 Getting the phone via a friend in US.

Anyways I learned from this site http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/IPhone_Firmware_Guide that you can see the serial of the shipped phone from the online store’s invoice, and from the serial you can of course determine the week when the phone was manufactured. Seems that I got a phone manufactured on week 51, which should be 1.1.2 🙂

Nice of course, but I believe that 1.1.3 would have unlocked in the *near* future anyways…

Moosexs

Actually I’m in Finland 🙂 Getting the phone via a friend in US.

Anyways I learned from this site http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/IPhone_Firmware_Guide that you can see the serial of the shipped phone from the online store’s invoice, and from the serial you can of course determine the week when the phone was manufactured. Seems that I got a phone manufactured on week 51, which should be 1.1.2 🙂

Nice of course, but I believe that 1.1.3 would have unlocked in the *near* future anyways…

Moosexs

Actually I’m in Finland 🙂 Getting the phone via a friend in US.

Anyways I learned from this site http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/IPhone_Firmware_Guide that you can see the serial of the shipped phone from the online store’s invoice, and from the serial you can of course determine the week when the phone was manufactured. Seems that I got a phone manufactured on week 51, which should be 1.1.2 🙂

Nice of course, but I believe that 1.1.3 would have unlocked in the *near* future anyways…

Moosexs

Actually I’m in Finland 🙂 Getting the phone via a friend in US.

Anyways I learned from this site http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/IPhone_Firmware_Guide that you can see the serial of the shipped phone from the online store’s invoice, and from the serial you can of course determine the week when the phone was manufactured. Seems that I got a phone manufactured on week 51, which should be 1.1.2 🙂

Nice of course, but I believe that 1.1.3 would have unlocked in the *near* future anyways…

Moosexs

Actually I’m in Finland 🙂 Getting the phone via a friend in US.

Anyways I learned from this site http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/IPhone_Firmware_Guide that you can see the serial of the shipped phone from the online store’s invoice, and from the serial you can of course determine the week when the phone was manufactured. Seems that I got a phone manufactured on week 51, which should be 1.1.2 🙂

Nice of course, but I believe that 1.1.3 would have unlocked in the *near* future anyways…

Moosexs

Actually I’m in Finland 🙂 Getting the phone via a friend in US.

Anyways I learned from this site http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/IPhone_Firmware_Guide that you can see the serial of the shipped phone from the online store’s invoice, and from the serial you can of course determine the week when the phone was manufactured. Seems that I got a phone manufactured on week 51, which should be 1.1.2 🙂

Nice of course, but I believe that 1.1.3 would have unlocked in the *near* future anyways…

Moosexs

Actually I’m in Finland 🙂 Getting the phone via a friend in US.

Anyways I learned from this site http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/IPhone_Firmware_Guide that you can see the serial of the shipped phone from the online store’s invoice, and from the serial you can of course determine the week when the phone was manufactured. Seems that I got a phone manufactured on week 51, which should be 1.1.2 🙂

Nice of course, but I believe that 1.1.3 would have unlocked in the *near* future anyways…

john owen

Hi Colin, as per the above instructions do you know in what week the phone was made? My brother just picked my up one in Seattle and it says it was the 2nd week of this year..

Thanks JPO.

john owen

Hi Colin, as per the above instructions do you know in what week the phone was made? My brother just picked my up one in Seattle and it says it was the 2nd week of this year..

Thanks JPO.

john owen

Hi Colin, as per the above instructions do you know in what week the phone was made? My brother just picked my up one in Seattle and it says it was the 2nd week of this year..

Thanks JPO.

john owen

Hi Colin, as per the above instructions do you know in what week the phone was made? My brother just picked my up one in Seattle and it says it was the 2nd week of this year..

Thanks JPO.

john owen

Hi Colin, as per the above instructions do you know in what week the phone was made? My brother just picked my up one in Seattle and it says it was the 2nd week of this year..

Thanks JPO.

Vancouverite

I just bought an iphone from cali…its 8th feb 2008….its a 16GB
The serial numbers are now a completely different format from the ones described in the guide…its 5 numbers followed by 6 letters. im assuming its a 16 GB so it is probably a 1.1.3.
someone needs to unlock the new 1.1.3….
anyone else with a similar dilemma?

Vancouverite

I just bought an iphone from cali…its 8th feb 2008….its a 16GB
The serial numbers are now a completely different format from the ones described in the guide…its 5 numbers followed by 6 letters. im assuming its a 16 GB so it is probably a 1.1.3.
someone needs to unlock the new 1.1.3….
anyone else with a similar dilemma?

Vancouverite

I just bought an iphone from cali…its 8th feb 2008….its a 16GB
The serial numbers are now a completely different format from the ones described in the guide…its 5 numbers followed by 6 letters. im assuming its a 16 GB so it is probably a 1.1.3.
someone needs to unlock the new 1.1.3….
anyone else with a similar dilemma?

Vancouverite

I just bought an iphone from cali…its 8th feb 2008….its a 16GB
The serial numbers are now a completely different format from the ones described in the guide…its 5 numbers followed by 6 letters. im assuming its a 16 GB so it is probably a 1.1.3.
someone needs to unlock the new 1.1.3….
anyone else with a similar dilemma?

Vancouverite

I just bought an iphone from cali…its 8th feb 2008….its a 16GB
The serial numbers are now a completely different format from the ones described in the guide…its 5 numbers followed by 6 letters. im assuming its a 16 GB so it is probably a 1.1.3.
someone needs to unlock the new 1.1.3….
anyone else with a similar dilemma?

BeBe

I am new to all of this stuff and hope one of you geniuses can help me out. I bought an 8gb iPhone at an Apple store in the U.S. back in Oct 07. The serial number starts with 7U740203XXX (label on outside of box). How can I find out what version firmware is on this thing? I meant to give this away to my son for Christmas but found out about the unblocking situation so I just kept it BUT want to get this thing going. I will go out to Rogers tomorrow to sign up on a base plan and will ensure I get a phone with a sim card. I don’t need any data service. Can anyone out there help me to understand what version firmware I’m running? …. and do I also need that Stealth SIM? Is there anywhere I can purchase that in the Mississauga area vs. online? Help Needed! – Thanks so much

BeBe

I am new to all of this stuff and hope one of you geniuses can help me out. I bought an 8gb iPhone at an Apple store in the U.S. back in Oct 07. The serial number starts with 7U740203XXX (label on outside of box). How can I find out what version firmware is on this thing? I meant to give this away to my son for Christmas but found out about the unblocking situation so I just kept it BUT want to get this thing going. I will go out to Rogers tomorrow to sign up on a base plan and will ensure I get a phone with a sim card. I don’t need any data service. Can anyone out there help me to understand what version firmware I’m running? …. and do I also need that Stealth SIM? Is there anywhere I can purchase that in the Mississauga area vs. online? Help Needed! – Thanks so much

BeBe

I am new to all of this stuff and hope one of you geniuses can help me out. I bought an 8gb iPhone at an Apple store in the U.S. back in Oct 07. The serial number starts with 7U740203XXX (label on outside of box). How can I find out what version firmware is on this thing? I meant to give this away to my son for Christmas but found out about the unblocking situation so I just kept it BUT want to get this thing going. I will go out to Rogers tomorrow to sign up on a base plan and will ensure I get a phone with a sim card. I don’t need any data service. Can anyone out there help me to understand what version firmware I’m running? …. and do I also need that Stealth SIM? Is there anywhere I can purchase that in the Mississauga area vs. online? Help Needed! – Thanks so much

BeBe

I am new to all of this stuff and hope one of you geniuses can help me out. I bought an 8gb iPhone at an Apple store in the U.S. back in Oct 07. The serial number starts with 7U740203XXX (label on outside of box). How can I find out what version firmware is on this thing? I meant to give this away to my son for Christmas but found out about the unblocking situation so I just kept it BUT want to get this thing going. I will go out to Rogers tomorrow to sign up on a base plan and will ensure I get a phone with a sim card. I don’t need any data service. Can anyone out there help me to understand what version firmware I’m running? …. and do I also need that Stealth SIM? Is there anywhere I can purchase that in the Mississauga area vs. online? Help Needed! – Thanks so much